Our Team
Makers’ Day is run and organised entirely by a team of volunteers on behalf of the British Violin Making Association. The event is not-for profit, with the exhibitor’s fees only covering venue and marketing costs.
Julian Pindar: Event Manager and Concert MC
Julian trained at Merton College in violin making and repair. He has built a repair and sale business in the Surrey area and also travels regularly to China advising workshops and factories on instrument making and quality control. He is also the secretary of the British Violin Making Association.
Emma Hardy: Event Coordinator
Emma is an independent violin maker and repairer based in Sheffield where she enjoys being part of the city’s thriving music scene. She studied violin making and repair under Keith Graves at Merton College, London. Emma is also editor of the BVMA Quarterly magazine.
Renato Carrano: Event Administrator
Renato studied at Merton College before taking up a role in the workshop of Stringers, London, where he focuses on set ups and repair work. He is also the administrator for the BVMA.
Tibor Szemmelveisz: Program Coordinator
Tibor Szemmelveisz is an experienced Violin, Viola & Cello Maker based in North London. He is also a member of the BVMA committee.
Paul Davis: Volunteer Coordinator
Paul lives in Suffolk and is currently a third year student at the Newark School of Violin Making, following a long-held ambition to pursue a life with violins. Before this, he had a 20 year Human Resources career.
Katy Thomas: Event Manager
Katy studied at the Newark School of Violin Making and graduated in 2007. After graduation she worked in Toronto repairing and restoring violins. Now she lives in Perugia, Italy and runs a workshop with her husband, Filippo Protani, a violin maker.
Paul Freemantle: Event Coordinator
Paul Fremantle makes historical bowed instruments including Viols and Baroque Violins. Paul recently completed a BA in historically informed instrument making at West Dean College. Before that, Paul was an entrepreneur in the software industry.
Sarah Turnock: Social Media
Sarah is a co owner of 23 Violins in Banbury which is a family business that specialises in sales and repair of instruments for students and amateur players. Sarah’s particular interest is varnish restoration and set up. Sarah’s principal instrument is cello.
Join the Team
Our ‘team in green’ event assistants are an integral part of the day. Duties include helping exhibitors set up, managing the instrument submissions and generally being on hand to assist where needed. This is a great role for violin making and repair students looking for opportunities to widen their network.
If you are interested in joining us, please fill out the form opposite.